Psalm LXIX: I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Lord, we come before you absolutely loaded down with blessings. One of the greatest of these blessings stands (or sits, or wiggles) among us during this service. In this room are a horde of small immortal souls--the children you have given our families. We thank you for all of them. In an age of barren desolation we live in a garden of bright eyes, tiny fingers, and innocent laughter. We thank you especially for the safe arrival of Eben, Lucas, and Hazel. May they grow strong and holy over the coming years.
And you have not only added children, but also new members to our congregation as well. Just as body is incomplete without fingers and toes, You have deemed us incomplete without these members. Grant them willing hearts; grant the rest of us open ones.
Your word says that when we seek God those hearts revive, for the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people. So we thank you for healing those who needed you most--for Janvier's progress over in the Ivory Coast and for Jessi's successful surgery. Grant them even more than they have at this moment, so they may see their blessings overflow too.
It is by means of all these blessings that you will save Zion, and the offspring of your servants will inherit it. So as you set more and more slaves free to be your servants, we thank you last for our faithful shepherds. In particular we thank you for Pastor Spratt of Spokane. Be a shepherd to him as he is for his flock.
And for all the unnamed blessings your people have in their minds right now, we thank you, knowing this pleases you more than any ox or bull ever did.
Amen
King's Cross Thanksgiving 9/3/23
